The midfielder was sent off in Wednesday's goalless draw with Southampton and will not now return until the new year.

Defensive duo Marc Muniesa and Erik Pieters should be fit after suffering knocks against the Saints but goalkeeper Jack Butland (ankle) and Geoff Cameron (knee) are out while winger Ibrahim Afellay will make his playing return in the Under-23s against Newcastle on Friday after being out since April with a knee injury.

Kasper Schmeichel could return for Leicester after missing the last six weeks with a fractured hand.

The goalkeeper will be assessed ahead of the champions' trip to Stoke but Danny Drinkwater looks likely to miss out with a knee injury. The midfielder sat out Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth with the problem having missed the previous three league games through suspension.

But Danny Simpson will return from suspension for the Foxes after missing Tuesday's loss having collected five bookings this season.